Separator.



No. 730,229; PATE'NTED JUNE 9,1903, v J. T. BURR'. l-

SEPARATOR.

APPLIOATION rum: JAN. 7, 1902.

no MODEL. I

lnlunhnf I I I @E WL WWQWM PATENT OFFICE.

JEssE r. BURR, 'oF GLENVILLE, OHIO.

SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

Application filed January To [I/ZZ "wk/07111 it nut/y concern:

Be it known that I, J EssE T. BUBR, of Glenville, county of Cu'yahoga, State of Ohio, have invented an Improvement in Separators, of which the following is a specification.

lVIy invention relates to apparatus for separating massesof matter into portions composed of particles of like or approximately equal specific gravity, and is fully set forth in the following specification.

lIore particularly my invention relates to the separation of a mass composed of loose particles of matter into one or lnore component portions composed of particles of like or approximately equal specific gravity.

In carrying out my invention I employ fiuid-pressureeither air, gas, or liquid, according to the nature of the material acted upon-to move the lnass over an upwardlyinclined plane, which imposes a frictional resistance to the movement of the particles of which the lnass is composed proportional to their specific gravity, and permit the heavier particles to drop from the mass when the frictional resistance imposed by the inclined plane over which the particles are moving is sufficient to overcome the pressure of the current. to the next inclined plane by the fluid-pressure after the heavier particles have beenremoved and may be subjected in like manner to one or J'DOIG separations, asthe nature of the mass -may require. By this means particlesof an approximately equal specific gravity may be separated from the mass, or any body of ponent portionsof different specific gravity. This elimination or separation of the moving particles by the frictional resistance of the inclined planes upon them is effected by the arrangement of the'planes at angles slightly exceeding the critical angles of the material and by providing them with extended frictional surfaces in planes intercepting at small angles the line of movement of the material under the foreeof the blast, and this frictional resistance, and consequently the point of separation, may be regulated to .suit the character of the materialby varying the fluidpressure by changing the angle of inclina tion of the planes up which the mass is moved or by varying the length of the in- The lighter particles are carried on matter may be dividedinto comr stantially parallel with one 730,229, dated June 9, 190a.

7,1902. Serial No. 88,733. (No modelJ aration may also be facilitated by reducing the fluid-pressure at the point at which the separation is desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a separator embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same with the top of the'body broken away to expose the interior.

.The separator embraces a longitudinal hollow body a of substantial length having openings at its ends to permit the passage of the air or liquid by which the material to be separated is conveyed through the separator. The body a is adapted to be arranged in a more or less inclined position, and this inclination should be adjustable. For this purpose I have shown the body a supported by trunnions b b at one end in side frames 19 I) and with the other end adjustably supported by a cable 0, running over guides co in the framework. of the body a may be raised or lowered to any extent desired to adjust the angular inclination of the separator. Any other suitable means may, however, be employed for adjusting the inclination of the separator.

The base of the body (1. consists of a series of inclined planes (Z d d (1 arranged subanother and over-. lapping, so that the upper endof one plane projects over the lower end of the next plane, leaving an open passage-way e efe between the overlapping ends, which forms a dischargeoutlet and m ay communicatewith a dischargechute f. The number of inclined planes and discharge-outlets provided in theJength of the body a will depend upon the number of separations desired in the mass of material passing through the separator. Injthe drawings ing three discharge passage-ways e 6' e A current of fluid-either air, gas, or liquid? is produced through the separator. This may which the material must' Consequently By this means the outer end I have shown four planes dd 01 dflform- Y I uv,aaa

be produced either by pressure at the lower end of the separatoror by suction at the upper end. In the drawings I have shown the lower end of the separator connected with a fanblower g, by vv'hich a current of air at any pressure desired may be blown through the separator.

The unseparated mass of material is introduced into the lower end of the separator in any suitable manner, as through the hopper 71, and falls upon the lower inclined plane (Z, where it is subjected to the current of fluid and is carried upward over the plane (Z and falls from the end thereof on the next inclined plane (2'. If the specific gravity of a portion of the particles of matter of which the mass is composed is such that the frictional resistance produced by the surface of the inclined plane on which the particles rest is sufficient to resist the pressure of the current at this point, it is obvious that a separation in the particles of the mass will be effected at the partition (1. The lighter portion will be carried on by the current over the partition (1 to the next inclined plane (Zfiwhile the heavier particles will fall by gravity through the outlet passage-way c. On the next partition :1. second separation will be effected in a similar manner. If only one separation is required, it will be necessary to employ only two inclined planes,and the lighter particles may be discharged through the end of the separator. If, however, it is desired to collect the lighter particles, as well as the heavier, an additional inclined plane and outlet should be provided. As the mass drops from the end of one inclined plane upon the next plane it passes for an instant through the air or fluid out of frictional contact with the planes. At such n10- ment there is a tendency of the particles to separate, the heavier particles falling slightly to the rear of the lighter particles. Such slight separation as takes place at this moment while to some extent facilitating the separation effected by the resistance due to the frictional contact on the inclined plane is not in itself sufficient to produce an effective separation of the particles in the manner required in practice. Vhile the separation can be satisfactorily effected with many masses simply by the difference in the fric tional resistance imposed upon the particles of matter by the inclined surfaces over which they move, it may be desirable to produce a slight diminution in the pressure of the cur rent at such point of separation. This is effected in the apparatus shown by reason of the increase in the area of the body of the separator at the upper end of each inclined plane and the opening afforded by the escapeoutlet, which will have the effect of diniinishing to some extent the pressure of the current at the moment the mass falls from one plane to the next. If with some materials a greater diminution of pressure is desirable, it can be produced by providing additional fiuid inlets at these points.

As the separation is effected by the difference in the frictional resistance imposed upon particles of matter of different specific gravity in passing upward overinclined planes, the separation may be varied to suit the materials acted upon by adjusting the inclination of the planes. This may be effected by varying the inclination of the separator, as has been described. A further adjustment Jnay, however, be afforded by increasing or decreasing the length of the inclined planes over which the particles move while subjected to the current of fluid. 1 For this purpose each of the planes may be provided with means for longitudinal adj ustment. I have shown the inclined planes supported at their ends in guides 13 in the sides of the body and provided on their lower faces with racksj, engaging pinions 7a, which may be operated by hand-wheels wz.

\Vhere the fluid-pressure is produced by a current of liquid, the entire separator may be submerged in liquid, if desired.

As the critical angles of the planes, and consequently the frictional resistance which they present, depends not only upon the specific gravity of the material and the area of the planes, but also upon the inclination of the planes to the direction of the blast or current, it is apparent that the frictional resistance may be controlled not only by the adjustment of the angular inclination of the planes themselves and the variation of their frictional area, but also by the variation of the angular direction or line of action of the blast or current with reference to the planes.

VVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A separator for separating a mass of matter into component portions composed of particles of like or approximately equal specific gravity, consisting of a longitudinal hollow body, having a base formed of a series of upwardly-inclined planes inclined at angles slightly exceeding the critical angles of the material and presenting extended frictional surfaces in planes interceptingat small angles the line of movement of the material under the force of the current and separated at their ends from one another so as to fol-1n escapeoutlets between adjacent planes, an inlet for the mass of material adjacent to the lowermost inclined plane, and means to induce a current of fluid upward through said hollow body over said inclined planes.

2. A separator for separatingamass of inatter into component portions composed of particles of like or approximately equal specific gravity, consisting of a longitudinal hollow body, having a base formed of a series of upwardly-inclined planes inclined at angles slightly exceeding the critical angles of the material and presenting extended frictional surfaces in planes intercepting at small angles the line of movement of the material under the force of the current and separated at their ends from one another so as to form escapeoutlets between adjacent planes, an inlet for the mass of material adjacent to the lowermost inclined plane, means to induce a current of fluid upward through said hollow body over said inclined planes, and means to reduce the fluid-pressure within said hollow body at the point or pointsat which separa: tion is desired.

3. A separator for separating a mass of matter. into component portions composed of particles of like or approximately equal specific gravity,.consisting of a longitudinal-hollow body, having a base formed of a series of upwardly-inclined planes inclined at angles slightly exceedingthe critical anglesof the material and presenting extended frictional surfaces in planes intercepting at small angles the line of movement. of the material under the force of the current and separatedat their ends from one another so as to. form escapeoutlets between adjacent planes,.an inlet for the mass of material adjacent to :the innermost inclined plane, means' to vary the angular inclination of saidplanes, and meansto induce a current of fluid upward through said hollow body over, said inclined planes.

4. .A separator-for separating a mass of matter into coinponent portions composed of particles of like or approximately equalspecific gravity, consisting of a'longitudinal hollow body, having a base formed. of a series of overlapping upwardly inclined'. planes inclinedat angles slightly exceeding the critical angles of the. material and presenting extended frictional surfaces in planes intercepting at slight angles the line of movement and provided withan escape-outlet between the overlapping portions of said inclined planes, and meansto induce a current-of fluid upwardly through said hollow body over. said inclined planes. V v

5. Aseparator forseparating a mass of mat ter into component portions composed of par ticles of like or approximately equalspecific gravity, consisting of a longitudinal hollow body, having a base formed of a series of overlapping upwardly inclined planes inclined at angles slightly exceeding the critical angles of the material and presenting extended frictional surfacesin planes intercept: ing at slight angles the line of movement of the material under the force of the current and provided with an escape-outlet between the overlapping portions of said inclinedv planes, means to varythe angular inclination of said inclined planes, and means to induce a current of fluid upwardly through saidhollow body over said inclined planes.

A 6. Aseparator for separating amass ofmatter into component portions composed of pa1fticles of like or approximately equahspecific gravity, consisting of a longitudinal hollow body, having a base formed of-a seriesof overlapping upwardly inclined planes in-. clined at angles slightly exceeding the critical angles of the material and presenting extended frictional surfaces in planes intercept ing at slight angles the line of movement of the material under the force of the .current and provided with an escape-outlet between the overlapping portions of said inclined planes, means to adjust'said planes longituw dinally to vary the area of their effiective frictional surfaces, and means'to induce a current of fluid upwardly through said hollowbody over saidinclined planes.

7 A separator for separating amass of:matter into component portions composed oflparticles of like or approximately equal specific. gravity consisting of a series of upwardly-in clined planes inclined at angles slightlyexceeding the critical angles of the material and presenting extended frictional. surfaces in. planes intercepting at small anglestheline of movement of the material under the vforce of the current, and ineans to induce a current of fluid upward overv said inclined planes.

In testimony. of which invention-*1 have hereunto set my hand. v

. JESSE T.;Ell RR; v

YVitnesses: .i

Mrs. G. I'L-SHIMMIN J. G. FENTON. 

